allah.eu » obama

Norway: Journalism conference complied with alcohol ban, claims Muslim org

admin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:00:22 +0000

Norway: Journalism conference complied with alcohol ban, claims Muslim org So.. are they Islamophobes? Bhatti recently made headlines when he organized a 'Muhammad cartoon' protest. He was arrested during Obama's visit to Oslo, and it was only recently revealed that the Norwegian security service feared he would use the opportunity to commit a terror attack.

Norway: Journalism conference complied with alcohol ban, claims Muslim org

So.. are they Islamophobes?

Bhatti recently made headlines when he organized a 'Muhammad cartoon' protest. He was arrested during Obama's visit to Oslo, and it was only recently revealed that the Norwegian security service feared he would use the opportunity to commit a terror attack.

————–

A Muslim organization claims they dictated an alcohol ban when Arfan Bhatti was supposed to talk about Islam to several hundred journalists.

In March Arfan Bhatti appeared in the journalists' SKUP (foundation for investigative journalism) conference , where he got to explain what he think of the media coverage about it.

There was a wide-ranging and strict security plan tied to Bhatti's participation in the conference, where about 500 journalists had the opportunity to watch the ''Late Night Show' led by NRK Anne Lindmo.

Bhatti's participation was kept secret until he came in the back door and appeared on the scene in Tønsberg.

Those who wanted to hear the former terrorist suspect Bhatti were told that the entrance inspections had been tightened and that therefore it wasn't possible to bring alcohol into the hall.

The panel included Arfan Bhatti, Dagbladet's John Olav Egeland and Qamar Ali from al-Hidayah.

“We had close cooperation with both the hotel management and the police and took the security measures we think were necessary. Therefore this year's Late Night Show is a little different than it was before,” Eirik Veum, responsible for the Late Night show in SKUP, wrote on the foundation's own website during the conference.

But one of the people who participated in the panel debate as spokesperson for the Muslim organization al-Hidayah, claims that it weren't security reasons that led to the alcohol ban in the hall.

“NRK went out of their way to ensure that we participated, to the extent that they ensured extra security, secrecy of the panel, and the presence of non-journalists in a closed seminar. They went so far that they closed the bar in the hall, and nobody was allowed there with any type of drink, which was a result of a demand from our side, when it was said that we refused to talk about Islam to intoxicated people. They went along with this, but never said this to the participants, the rest were only told that all drinks in the hall were banned due to 'security reasons',” Qamar Ali writes in a post on the islam.no site.

Qamar Ali says went out of their way to comply with Arfan Bhatti's wish.

In the post Qamar Ali claims that Bhatti “was open not only to come up with proposals, but to also control the entire panel, also who would sit there, what subject would be, what questions would be asked.”

“This is just nonsense. To have John Olav Egeland in the debate is evidence that Ali doesn't know what he's talking about,” says Eirik Veum, who was responsible for the Late Night show.

The NRK journalist decisively denies that they were dictated to by Bhatti or al-Hidayah.

He admits however, that alcohol 'was a subject' in the talks about Bhattis' participation in the conference.

“It was a subject we discussed, but I want to deny that we were dictated an alcohol ban. We wouldn't have given in to such a demand. What's absolutely clear is that the alcohol ban was based on security considerations linked to a possible evacuation situation,” Veum told tv2nyhetene.no.

Veum further says that before the conference the organizers spoke with representatives of the police and hotel, but that Qamar Ali's claims differ from his own account.

“Ali, who claims this, entered this process late, two days before the conference started. And I didn't have any talks with Ali about an alcohol ban. Many arguments were used, among them was Bhatti's notion that alcohol would be a disruptive element, that people wouldn't want to hear what he had to say,” Veum told tv2nyhetene.no.

Veum, who works for Dagsrevyen (NRK evening news), told tv2nyhetene.no that he doesn't understand the Qamar Ali's statements.

“We are surprised about the way they're arguing after the fact. I don't understand at all where they get this from. It's a useful lesson for next time,” Veum says.

Source: TV 2 Nyhetene (Norwegian)

Quote: The European Tea Party

admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:54:42 +0000

Quote: The European Tea Party Rob de Wijk, professor of history and researcher in the field of international relations, accuses the Europeans in a recent column in Dutch newspaper Trouw of helping Obama’s opponents by refusing to help the US (not accepting Guantanamo prisoners, refusing to send forces to Afghanistan). In that article he compares the American Tea Party to European right-wingers.

Quote: The European Tea Party

Rob de Wijk, professor of history and researcher in the field of international relations, accuses the Europeans in a recent column in Dutch newspaper Trouw of helping Obama’s opponents by refusing to help the US (not accepting Guantanamo prisoners, refusing to send forces to Afghanistan). In that article he compares the American Tea Party to European right-wingers.

The parallels [between the American Tea Party movement and] populist parties in Europe is striking. Just like in Europe, they fall back on the good of the past. In Europe that’s a world without Muslims; in America that’s a world without a strong government and maximal citizen freedom. In both cases it’s a rebellion against a political elite that is not trusted and has no solutions for the big problems. And increasingly the goal is disorder.

Norway: Immigrants, Muslims portrayed negatively in the media

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:44:53 +0000

Norway: Immigrants, Muslims portrayed negatively in the media The IMDI report is available here (in Norwegian) ————- The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDI) published a report on Tuesday “Immigrants in Norwegian media: Media caused Islam fear and invisible day to day life”, a detailed report on how immigrants are portrayed in Norwegian media. The report shows that in 2009 there were just as many reports about Islam and Muslims (77,000) as there were about PM Jens Stoltenberg, and more than about the swine flu (74,000). 71% of all media reports focusing on immigration or integration were assessed as problem-oriented.

Norway: Immigrants, Muslims portrayed negatively in the media

The IMDI report is available here (in Norwegian)

————-

The Directorate of Integration and Diversity (IMDI) published a report on Tuesday “Immigrants in Norwegian media: Media caused Islam fear and invisible day to day life”, a detailed report on how immigrants are portrayed in Norwegian media.

The report shows that in 2009 there were just as many reports about Islam and Muslims (77,000) as there were about PM Jens Stoltenberg, and more than about the swine flu (74,000).

71% of all media reports focusing on immigration or integration were assessed as problem-oriented.

There’s increased attention to religion, and especially to Islam, the report shows, and large focus on people from Somalia. Less visible in the media are the part of the integration efforts which are going well.

Somalis were the immigrant group most talked about, and that was often linked to crime, cultural practices and ‘lacking integration’. Muslims and Somalis were portrayed particularly biased and negatively.

The conclusion shows that these immigrant group experience the most discrimination. 80% of those who have lived in Norway for a long time say they feel integrated, but 50% also feel discriminated.

IMDI says that when talking of immigrants who did anything criminal, their immigrant background is often brought up. Immigrants who do well in sports or culture are, on the hand, described as ‘Norewgian’. The report says that while most of the government’s integration effort are directed at getting immigrants to learn Norwegian and economically independent. The media coverage rarely corresponds to what the government thinks is important for good integration.

“Immigrants” and “Norwegians” are often used as opposites. Since the media is the most important source for information about immigrants, IMDI is critically questioning the media and its work.

Asmund Kalheim of IMDI thinks the report warns that a negative media picture of a group of a nationality over time contribute to creating negative attitudes which can lead to increased discrimination.

The report was published with help from representatives of academia, media and people of immigrant background.

Kalheim says he’s surprised that Islam is more important for the media than swine-flu, education, children’s welfare and environmental and climate issues. Even Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize didn’t reach that level, he says.

But, he adds, he’s not surprised that the media logic focuses on sensation, dramatics and showing the most extreme on every side of the debate.

Kalheim says they see a change in the media coverage. While in the past they focused on where people came from, now’s there more focus on their religion.

“There’s much pointing to the fact that this is an international trend. That there’s increased attention to Islam and Muslims, and that this attention is mostly negative,” he says.

“Firstly, it must be a little sad for Jens Stoltenberg that Islam and Muslims are named more than him. He should be present more in the integration debate,” says Trude Ringheim, Dagbladet commentator.

She agrees that the press is occupied by hijab and Islam. She says it’s negative and stigmatizing in several ways, but that she also thinks there has been a lot of good informational pieces in the past year.

The report says that more than 70% of the articles were conflict-oriented. Kalheim says only a small percentage of the reports were resource-oriented or neutral (11%).

Q: But isn’t it normal that the press is conflict oriented?

A: Yes, in any case for tabloid papers. To get us to write more about common, normal and pleasant day to day life, is probably a lost case. But I agree that there are many amusing, good stories we should tell. She should be more out there. And we should tell the stories of those who come to Norway, about their whole lives. And set their lives in greater perspective, something we’re not good enough in doing today.”

Kalheim says that the IMDI isn’t trying to do media criticism, but rather society-analysis and self-criticism.

“On the social level we’re concerned about warning against a development where a colossal negative media description overall of a group of a national contribute to creating negative attitudes which can be dangerous in the sense that it leads to increased discrimination – that more people are discriminated relating to residence, work and other ways. It’s unacceptable and it’s an undesired development.”

He says various immigrants, especially Somalis and other Muslims, say they experience this type of discrimination.

“There are various Muslims and Somalis who say that it’s exactly what’s happening, and that’s a warning sign for a diverse society,” says Kalheim.

Mazyar Keshvari of the Progress Party in Oslo, defends the media. Keshvari says that they’re simplifying the debate too much when they just count the positive and negative stories. There are also ethnic Norwegians who are described most negatively.

He thinks the press won’t be doing their job if they hide the actual circumstances when it comes to immigrants.

“Since IMDI are concerned by statistics, they could look at statistics for participation in the job market or aggravated rapes. All the aggravated rapes in Oslo last year were committed by non-Western immigrants. It’s the media’s job to report on this, if not they would be doing their job,” Keshvari told Nettavisen

Sources: TV2 Nyhetene, Nettavisen, NTB info (Norwegian)

Finland: Muxlim wins presidential prize

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:07:27 +0000

Finland: Muxlim wins presidential prize The President of the Republic of Finland, Tarja Halonen, presented the 2009 Internationalization Awards to the software company Tekla Corporation, the environmental consultancy firm REACHLaw Ltd., and the Muxlim community. The objective of the Internationalization Awards is to encourage businesses to operate in an international environment and to boost their ability to develop and adopt new operating models. The 2009 Internationalization Awards were presented today in Helsinki

Finland: Muxlim wins presidential prize

The President of the Republic of Finland, Tarja Halonen, presented the 2009 Internationalization Awards to the software company Tekla Corporation, the environmental consultancy firm REACHLaw Ltd., and the Muxlim community. The objective of the Internationalization Awards is to encourage businesses to operate in an international environment and to boost their ability to develop and adopt new operating models. The 2009 Internationalization Awards were presented today in Helsinki.

“The Internationalization Awards of the President of the Republic highlights concepts and business models as examples for other Finnish companies that are going international. This year, all the award-winners represent highly specialized expertise and the combination of expertise from many different industries. Furthermore, the international service industry has an important role in their businesses,” says Jorma Turunen, President and CEO of Finpro.

Every year, Finpro looks for candidates for the Internationalization Awards and carries out their preliminary assessment. Based on the evaluation the Board of Directors of Finpro proposes a list of candidates to the President in collaboration with the Association for Finnish Work. The President of the Republic decides the winners of the Internationalization Award. Today’s award ceremony was the 42nd in the history of the award.

(…)

Muxlim Lifestyle Community is a social media website aimed at Muslims. Muxlim is developed and maintained by Muxlim Inc., which was established in Espoo in 2006. The company was established by Mohamed El-Fatatry, an Egyptian who came to study in Finland due to the high-quality education opportunities and Nokia's international reputation. Muxlim is now awarded the Community Award, which Nokia received in 1999. “Muxlim could not have been born anywhere else but in Finland, a country with strong technological expertise and a neutral position worldwide. Here, there has been no prejudice against our community. Instead, everybody without exceptions, has supported our activities. Thanks to the company's neutral background, the Muxlim.com community has spread to 190 countries. The Muxlim community is not intended for Muslims only, everybody is welcome,” says Founder and CEO Mohamed El-Fatatry. Muxlim is an independent meeting place that offers companies and organizations a unique channel to get to know the lifestyle and way of thinking of Muslim youngsters and young adults. It reaches tens of millions of people in over 190 countries. Also Mohamed El-Fatatry has raised significant attention internationally. In fact, he has been chosen as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world, and he will participate in the Presidential Entrepreneurship Summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in Washington in the spring 2010.

(more)

Source: Business Wire (English)

Pelosi Calls Afghan Karzai "unworthy partner"

admin — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:48:00 +0000

Today elitist Nancy Pelosi has thrown Afghan President Karzi into the meat grinder. Besides this, back in October Obama opened up his bottomless checkbook to the Taliban. Also stating that in the future, Taliban members will be allowed into the Afghan government

Pelosi calls Afghan Karzai “unworthy partner”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai is an “unworthy partner” who does not deserve a big boost either in U.S. troops or civilian aid, U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.

Pelosi, a skeptic on sending more troops to Afghanistan, also said in an interview with National Public Radio aired on Friday that there was not strong support among her fellow Democrats in Congress for “any big ramp-up of troops” to oppose resurgent Taliban forces.

She told NPR she had asked fellow Democrats to give President Barack Obama room to decide his Afghan strategy, which is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Once Obama, also a Democrat, announces his decision, lawmakers would “not be shy” about responding, she said.

“The president of Afghanistan has proven to be an unworthy partner. We cannot fund a mission where we don’t have a reliable partner and where whatever civilian investments we want to make, which are so necessary, will be diverted for a corrupt purpose,” Pelosi told NPR News’ Morning Edition.

“How can we ask the American people to pay a big price in lives and limbs and also in dollars if we don’t have a connection to a reliable partner?”

Pelosi’s comments came a day after Karzai was sworn in for his second five-year term. He has faced tough pressure from Western leaders to clamp down on widespread corruption and replace former guerrilla leaders and cronies with able technocrats in his new government.

Link to Article

Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.), Bows to Islam

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Cowardly Congressman Donald Manzullo has now joined hands with Senator Lindsey Graham. In the past week they both have bowed down to Islam, the religion of war. Muslims keep on pushing, and our so called “leaders” continue to retreat

Lawmaker apologizes after ’savage religion’ remark
By Katherine Skiba and Richard Simon
November 18, 2009

Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-Ill.) says his remark about terrorism suspects did not refer to Islam generally.

Reporting from Washington – An Illinois congressman who opposes the idea of moving terrorism suspects to a prison in his district issued a qualified apology Tuesday after a comment that critics viewed as insulting to Islam.

In an interview with television station WREX in Rockford, Ill., Republican Rep. Donald Manzullo said of terrorism suspects: “These are really, really mean people whose job it is to kill people, driven by some savage religion.” An aide said Tuesday that Manzullo, who opposes the possibility of housing detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the Thomson Correctional Center in northwestern Illinois, received about 20 complaints about the remark. The Obama administration has identified Thomson as a possible site for the detainees.

In a statement, Manzullo said he was not referring generally to Islam, but to terrorists who practice a violent, anti-modern version of Islam. He said Islam is a “religion of peace” and that the vast majority of its adherents are “men and women of goodwill.”

He added: “Nevertheless, I apologize for any misunderstanding of my comments and I will endeavor in the future to clarify my remarks to make it absolutely clear that America is not opposed to Islam, but that we are fighting terrorists who believe in a savage, perverted, and violent form of Islam.”

Link to Article

Pat Robertson: Islam is Violent Political System~Video

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 02:49:00 +0000

Pat Robertson speaks of the Fort Hood attack and unlike our lying Obama , he tells us straight out what Islam is.

Pat Robertson speaks of the Fort Hood attack and unlike our lying Obama, he tells us straight out what Islam is.

Obama: "No Faith Justifies These Murderous and Craven Acts…."

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:13:00 +0000

The lies from our so called leaders in regards to the Islamic terrorist attack on Fort Hood continue. Today Islam loving Obama, states that “No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor,” Obama, did you happen to miss these sections of the Islamic scriptures? From the Koran

Obama, did you happen to miss these sections of the Islamic scriptures?

From the Koran.

008.012
YUSUFALI: Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instil terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them.”

008.013
YUSUFALI: This because they contended against Allah and His Messenger: If any contend against Allah and His Messenger, Allah is strict in punishment.

008.060
YUSUFALI: Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.

009.073
YUSUFALI: O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the Hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell,- an evil refuge indeed.

From the Hadiths.

Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Book 52:
Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 41:

Narrated Abdullah bin Masud:

I asked Allah’s Apostle, “O Allah’s Apostle! What is the best deed?” He replied, “To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times.” I asked, “What is next in goodness?” He replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents.” I further asked, what is next in goodness?” He replied, “To participate in Jihad in Allah’s Cause.” I did not ask Allah’s Apostle anymore and if I had asked him more, he would have told me more.

Volume 4, Book 52, Number 50:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet said, “A single endeavor (of fighting) in Allah’s Cause in the forenoon or in the afternoon is better than the world and whatever is in it.”

Obama salutes Fort Hood victims, condemns murders
By BEN FELLER

FORT HOOD, Texas – One by one, President Barack Obama spoke the names and told the stories Tuesday of the 13 people slain in the Fort Hood shooting rampage, honoring their memories as he denounced the “twisted logic” that led to their deaths.

“No faith justifies these murderous and craven acts; no just and loving God looks upon them with favor,” Obama told the crowd on a steamy Texas afternoon. “And for what he has done, we know that the killer will be met with justice — in this world and the next.”

He did not name Maj. Nidal Hasan, the military psychiatrist accused of the killings. As for the victims and the soldiers who rushed to help them, Obama said, “We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.” He spoke at a memorial service before a crowd estimated at 15,000 on this enormous Army post.

Link to Article

Obama Warns Afghan President: Time for new Chapter

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:58:00 +0000

Did you hear that Karzai? If you do not do the right thing, Obama might just let the Taliban thugs takeover

Did you hear that Karzai? If you do not do the right thing, Obama might just let the Taliban thugs takeover. Oh, he is already on the way to doing that….

Obama warns Afghan president: Time for new chapter
By BEN FELLER

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama greeted Hamid Karzai’s election victory with as much admonishment as praise on Monday, pointedly advising America’s partner in war he must make more serious efforts to end corruption in Afghanistan’s government and prepare his nation to ultimately defend itself.

“I emphasized that this has to be a point in time in which we begin to write a new chapter,” Obama said in describing his phone call to the Afghan president. When Karzai offered back assurances, Obama said he told him that “the proof is not going to be in words. It’s going to be in deeds.”

Obama’s message of stern solidarity came as he considers sending tens of thousands more U.S. troops into the war zone in Karzai’s country.

Karzai won a second term Monday when competitor Abdullah Abdullah pulled out of the Nov. 7 runoff, suggesting it would be doomed by fraud just as the first voting in August was. The handling of the first election cost Karzai in international credibility.

Yet the White House put its weight behind the legitimacy of the final outcome after helping to broker a runoff that never happened. Obama called the process “messy” but said Karzai won in accordance with Afghan law. The White House repeatedly said Abdullah had pulled out for his own political and personal reasons.

The collapse of the planned run-off increases pressure on the Obama administration to quickly end its lengthy deliberations about whether to commit more U.S. forces to a worsening war. Obama may announce his revamped war strategy, including a decision on sending more troops, early next week before a planned overseas trip.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged that Karzai’s win by default is a factor in the coming decision about troops but did not say the timetable for an announcement has changed. The administration continues to say it will happen in the “coming weeks.”

In recounting his call to Karzai, Obama spent most of his time saying what he expects from his fellow president: more diligent efforts to end corruption, cooperation in accelerating the training of Afghan security forces, tangible benefits in the lives of the Afghan people.

Those aren’t just Obama’s standards. He is under pressure to show Congress and the public that the U.S. is dealing with a trustworthy partner, particularly if it is going to send more troops there. Many Americans have grown weary of the war and are questioning its worth.

Link to Article

Obama Offers Taliban 6 Provinces for 8 Bases

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

When Obama stated that he was going to reach out to the Islamic world, he was not kidding. The weakness of Obama has lead to the Taliban getting stronger.

When Obama stated that he was going to reach out to the Islamic world, he was not kidding. The weakness of Obama has lead to the Taliban getting stronger. He has even given the Taliban the OK to participate in the future political landscape of Afghanistan. Apparently none of this was enough though, and now Obama is willing to share power in Afghanistan with the Taliban thugs. This is straight out of the Twilight Zone.

US Offers Taliban 6 Provinces for 8 Bases
By Aamir Latif, IOL Correspondent

ISLAMABAD – The emboldened Taliban movement in Afghanistan turned down an American offer of power-sharing in exchange for accepting the presence of foreign troops, Afghan government sources confirmed.

“US negotiators had offered the Taliban leadership through Mullah Wakil Ahmed Mutawakkil (former Taliban foreign minister) that if they accept the presence of NATO troops in Afghanistan, they would be given the governorship of six provinces in the south and northeast,” a senior Afghan Foreign Ministry official told IslamOnline.net requesting anonymity for not being authorized to talk about the sensitive issue with the media.

He said the talks, brokered by Saudi Arabia and Turkey, continued for weeks at different locations including the Afghan capital Kabul.

Saudi Arabia, along with Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, were the only states to recognize the Taliban regime which ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

Turkish Prime Minister Reccap Erodgan has reportedly been active in brokering talks between the two sides.

His emissaries are in contact with Hizb-e-Islami (of former prime minister Gulbadin Hikmatyar) too because he is an important factor in northeastern Afghanistan.”

A Taliban spokesman admitted indirect talks with the US.

“Yes, there were some indirect talks, but they did not work,” Yousaf Ahmedi, the Taliban spokesman in southern Afghanistan, told IOL from an unknown location via satellite phone.

“There are some people who are conveying each others’ (Taliban and US) messages. But there were no direct talks between us and America,” he explained.

Afghan and Taliban sources said Mutawakkil and Mullah Mohammad Zaeef, a former envoy to Pakistan who had taken part in previous talks, represented the Taliban side in the recent talks.

The US Embassy in Kabul denied any such talks.

“No, we are not holding any talks with Taliban,” embassy spokeswoman Cathaline Haydan told IOL from Kabul.

Asked whether the US has offered any power-sharing formula to Taliban, she said she was not aware of any such offer.

“I don’t know about any specific talks and the case you are reporting is not true.”

Provinces for Bases

Source say that for the first time the American negotiators did not insist on the “minus-Mullah Omer” formula, which had been the main hurdle in previous talks between the two sides.

The Americans reportedly offered Taliban a form of power-sharing in return for accepting the presence of foreign troops.

“America wants 8 army and air force bases in different parts of Afghanistan in order to tackle the possible regrouping of Al-Qaeda network,” the senior official said.

He named the possible hosts of the bases as Mazar-e-Sharif and Badakshan in north, Kandahar in south, Kabul, Herat in west, Jalalabad in northeast and Ghazni and Faryab in central Afghanistan.

In exchange, the US offered Taliban the governorship of the southern provinces of Kandahar, Zabul, Hilmand and Orazgan as well as the northeastern provinces of Nooristan and Kunar.

These provinces are the epicenter of resistance against the US-led foreign forces and are considered the strongholds of Taliban.

Orazgan and Hilmand are the home provinces of Taliban Supreme Commander Mullah Omer and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

“But Taliban did not agree on that,” said the senior official.

“Their demand was that America must give a deadline for its pull out if it wants negotiations to go on.”

Link to Article